Facebook is not Killing Communication
In “Facebook Is Killing Communication”, Crystal Jones claims that Facebook has serious problems
for everyone who uses it, though she acknowledges that Facebook is known for its ability to bring
people together to share their lives. By drawing the attention of readers to those old years when
telephones were used to call friends, cards were played and lives were discussed about, she concludes
that such human communication has become an ancient thing. Although she accepts that Facebook
which was launched in 2004, has more than seventy million subscribers and is the place to meet new
and old friends and to stay in contact with family, she says Facebook is a threat and hazard to people
who use it to communicate because according to her it reduces face–to-face communication and
personal networking skills. She further claims that Facebook is poisonous to friendship and
communication, despite the fact which she also admits that the site has become a key social networking
service and promotes communication and friendship. Finally, she also says that Facebook leads people
to have a sort of shallow relationships. In this essay, I will try to show Jones is wrong about some of
the claims she made.
First, Jones wrongly claims that Facebook has serious problems for everyone who uses this
site. From where she got this incorrect information? Is there is any evidence that can support her claim?
On the contrary Facebook has become a useful tool for most of the people who uses internet to connect
with other people, be it friends, family members or office colleagues. Although there could be a rare
possibility that someone might have a bitter experience in a specific scenario, however, this rarity can
not be applied in general term to its all users.
Second, Jones is wrong to make a comment that Facebook is dangerous to friendship because
the reality is that it helps us find and connect with old school mates and catch up with friends. Has she
come across any incident wherein she or someone else broken her or their friendship with others solely
due to Facebook? She does not realize that Facebook has become a handy tool in helping people
finding their friends online who have been drifted apart over time due to physical distance such that
they have been forced to move to other cities or countries. In addition, she did not consider the fact
that Facebook helps in finding new friends and it is very easy to find like-minded people by seeing
their interests, and we can easily connect with them, talk to them at lesser costs and see them online
by using video chats. Therefore, she is incorrect in her claim since Facebook has helped friends and
families maintain connections with loved ones from even far places.
fairness, Jones could be using hyperbole and exaggerating to force readers to think about how people
make use or misuse of their Facebook accounts. But her ideas are wrong as this essay shows, because
nothing can be generalized and stated as facts without complete information supported with data. Yet,
if Jones just wanted to make readers think about the problems that can result from wrong usage of
Facebook maybe she succeeded in doing this.